Atop The Ramparts

[Frenetic stretches to his full size, eying the vast bulwarks of the
Britannian Armory as his companion slinks up behind him.  Without
looking, he reaches out and pats the man on the head.]


Hello Richard.  Ready for some fun?


[Richard Garriott nods mutely.  Frenetic looks over the horizon,
mentally checking some things off as he goes over the buildings.]


Let me think ... which one do we  ... do we hit first.  Hmm.  So many
buildings.


[Behind the dragon and programmer, Dennis and Roc stand tied to a
large board which extends up from the floor.  Neither seems too
interested in conversation; Dennis whimpers, trying his best to loosen
the bands of rope which hold him.]


Say, you kn-know, it was really Roc that-


[Roc glares.]


HEY!


[Dennis tries to ignore his companion, speaking directly to Frenetic.]

-that messed up the last part of the trial.  I mean ... anyone would
have messed up the ... what was a llama d-d-doing in there anyway?
But ... b-but, c-could you possibly ... well, ah, I mean, that is, can
you think ... well, no ... do you think you could possibly ... allow
me to leave now?


[Frenetic swivels his head around, his body still facing out toward
the city.  He smiles coldly, closing in on his less stable prisoner.]


Let me get this straight.


[Dennis pales slightly.  Frenetic presses his snout close enough to
shake the post that holds the humans in place, his voice dripping with
contempt as he speaks.]


You make Roc do everything.  You have him balance the blade.  You have
him do the Happy Dance.  You let him endure the plugging of-


[Roc coughs.]


Can we not revisit that?


[Frenetic shrugs.]


Right, well, you get my point.


[Roc sighs, looks at Frenetic in resigned annoyance.]


What did I just say?


[Frenetic "ohs," claps a claw to his snout, and pats Roc on the head.]

Sorry, wasn't thinking.  Anyway, as I was saying ... 

<peer>

You let Roc do all the pre-negotiating claptrap, and then you *dare*
to ask for your release?

[Dennis shuts his eyes, leaning away from Frenetic as he cries out.]

But he couldn't ... I mean ... well ... the bunny rabbit ... I would
have ... but but ... well, I thought Roc could ... it was ...

[Frenetic sniffs disinterestedly.]

I have no doubt you could have.  You strike me as the sort.

<pause>

I tell you what.  

<grin>

You seem to like that sort of thing, right?

[Dennis frowns slightly, shakes his head.]

No, no, I do not!  I do not!

[Frenetic smiles warmly, pulling Richard Garriott over to his side as
he speaks to Dennis.  As he speaks quietly to his victim, his eyes
twinkle with a look of unmitigated joy.]

Listen, Dennis.  I have the perfect idea for what you can do.  Trust
me.  You're so ... right ... for this job.

[Dennis writhes beneath the rope, trying to escape as Frenetic looks
to Garriott.]

Richard ... let's give Dennis ... a new job.

[Richard nods slowly, reaches forward with his hands.  Placing them on
Dennis' shoulders, he mutters some arcane language and then holds a
hand skyward.  Pointing into the city, Garriott screams.]

GOTO GOSUB IF THEN PRINT!

[A thunderclap, a stroke of fire in the sky.  Everyone ducks, covering
their eyes as the firsthand effects of Richard's handiwork explode
into a shower of sparks and smoke.  Frenetic uncovers an eyelid, cocks
his head to one side as he examines the charred spot where Dennis once
stood.]

You didn't just fry him, did you?

[Richard shakes his head.]

No.

[Frenetic peers, sniffing the wisps of smoke.]

You sure you didn't cook him?

[Richard nods slowly.]

Quite sure.

[Frenetic coughs, looking down as he ponders.]

Is that really all it takes?

[Richard looks over to the dragon.]

What?  The words?

[Frenetic sniffs, nods to the affirmative.  The father of Ultima 
squats down, traces a finger through the ash lining the ground next to
Roc.]

Basically.  It's more finesse than raw crunch power.  You have to feel
it.

[Frenetic blinks, shrugs, and looks up to Roc.]

Whatever.

<puff>

Okay, Mr. Negotiator.  You failed.  It's time to pay for that failure
... but we need to make this a better lesson than last time.  I'm
getting tired of you people coming in and making fools of yourself
without learning anything in the process.  Eventually, I'd like to see
someone meet my demands ... but until then ...

[Latching one claw on Roc, and the other on Garriott, Frenetic spreads
his wings and hunkers down.]

Let's pay Britain's newest fountain a visit.

[Springing up into the air, the dragon pulls both men up and under his
wings and hits a draft.  Frenetic soars slightly, hovers in
mid-stroke, and then dives into the city below.]



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